Around The House

We are so excited for Grandma Nielson's visit tomorrow. She will be here one whole week. We have lots of fun planned. Look for the upcoming blog post. Ava is a sweetheart and loves her Mom and Dad. We are still working on getting her to try new foods. We'll get there. Enjoy the pics and video clip.


Yellow, yellow every where. On my bed and in my hair.
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Shoulder rides! Hold on tight to Daddy's hair.


Up so high.


More shoulder rides, because they are so fun.
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I look at this wall while I nurse Ava and I wasn't quite sure what to do with it. I wanted to paint it, but we rent. Here is the before photo.

Here is the after. (please excuse the choppy panorama.) My solution was a paper mural. I used green scrap-booking paper and Plasti-Tac. I traced out a mural on the computer, (with Adobe Illustrator), then cut the paper down to fit the printer. I printed out about 25 sheets of image area, cut it out, taped it together and put it up. Putting it up was super easy. I like it a lot, but always the perfectionist, I wish the image were reversed so the dresser would look better on the right. Live and learn. I'm pretty happy with it though. I just need to decide where to put the mirror and I would love to get a little toy box/bench.

A close up.

Rex's project: We don't have cable and since the switch to digital television we haven't had any reception. Rex--along with Grandpa Nielson's invaluable help and supplies--created an antenna that works better than one you can by in the store. We just have to keep it out of baby's reach. :)

Ava can crawl, she just doesn't know it yet.

Eating, Boosting Up and Two Teeth

Ava is learning to push up on all fours by herself. She hasn't discovered forward motion yet. (!) She is getting her top 2 front teeth this week. We are also progressing on the eating. In addition to rice cereal she will now eat ... prunes. This is perfect as it keeps her regular. She hasn't warmed up to apples, peaches, pears, peas or carrots. We'll keep trying. We spent most of the weekend looking for an affordable mattress. (no pictures of that thank goodness.) We went from store to store (4 or 5 in all) Ava slept on and off as we hauled her around in her car seat/stroller. What a good girl.


Getting chilly on our walks.


The new fall style
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Feeding herself. (not really, just playing with the spoon.)

Mmmmmm, prunes.

Angel face.

Trying to get up on all fours.

Still trying.

Up!

A Peek at Fall

I have allergies says the doctor. I thought I got a bug, but all I have to do is take a Claritin and I feel okay again. I didn't have fall allergies in NC last year. I guess things change. We have been able to see more of Becca and Emer this week now that I am in the clear. Ava loves to watch Emerson and Emerson loves to ham it up. This works out perfectly. We went on hikes to Bond Park and De Hart Botanical Gardens. The second one was an hour away and wasn't what we had initaly expected. A nice surprise though. More of a forest than a garden. It's starting to cool off here. 70's in the day and 50's at night. Can't complain. (yet) :)


Becca, Emer, Ava conga-line
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Walking around Bond Park
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De Hart Botanical Gardens. Flowers blooming in October.

Bamboo forest.

Waving to Ava by the waterfall.

All bundled up and out for a walk in the evening air. C'mon Ava, Smile.

There we go.

Our Trip to Utah 09'

What a fun trip we had to see our family. We are sorry it was so short, but we are happy to have been able to see you at all. In the 8 hours flying there and 8 hours flying back (layovers included) Ava only cried once. What an amazing baby. So many sounds and sights and new faces. She seemed to really enjoy herself. She is still getting back on NC time and is going to bed about an hour later than usual. Daddy and Ava came back very healthy, but Mommy has been sick for a week solid. It can't be much longer now. (!?) We so enjoyed seeing you and look forward to our next visit. We love you, R&R+A


Ava's first plane ride. Not too sure about this up in the air stuff.


Cuddles with Holli's sweet girl Piper.


Chase explains modern flight to Ava. Again, still not too sure about it.

Ava Claire and Piper Ann.

Holli, Chase, Rhonda, Ava, Piper. All smiles!

Off to the Ogden Dinosaur Park.

Hey, I know a Rex!

More big dinos.

Now little baby dinos.

I spy with my little eye ... a Jonas!

Super jumper Lucy.

Super jumper Lilly.

Lilly, Tammy, Ava, Rhonda.

Jonas, Mindy, Lilly, Tammy, Ava, Rhonda, Lucy.

Can't slow down.

Lilly pirouettes.

The dynamic duo.

Another dynamic duo.

Everybody jump!

Super big smiles.

Ava, Daddy, Eli, Daddy.

Sweet little Eli. So cute!

Get your walking sticks out kids. We're headed up the South Fork Canyon.

Hey Ava, do you want to go on a hike?

Yes!!!!!

Riding with Daddy.

What about pictures? Can we shoot those?

Almost to Grandma's favorite view.

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Resting in the shade.

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Autumn leaves in South Fork Canyon.

Mount Timp above a meadow.

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More pretty views.

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Grandma's meadow.

Robin and Ava meet.

Thank you for the pretty clothes Robin.

Who wants to hold me next?

Grandpa does!

You can't escape from Grandpa smooches.

We saw five rainbows on the way from Provo to Sandy to see Uncle Jimmy.

I won't post all five, but here is another pretty one.

Zoe and Ava meet. Such pretty girls.

Noah, Zoe and Ava. Wonderful cousins!

Back at Casa de Nielson the next day.

I love you Ava.

Tammy takes some pictures of the kids. Can't wait to see the real photos. Big smiles from Lucy.

What a trooper. Good job Jonas.

The trio together again.

Great-Grandma Young and Ava meet. We love you Grandma!

So cute together.

Mommy and Daddy's first date in 7 months. Thank you for watching Ava Grandma. Mom and Dad drive the Alpine Loop.

What a handsome Daddy.

Memories of our outing.

The Aspens haven't turned yet.

So many pretty views.

Sundance ski resort before the snow.

Three little monkies. Don't worry Ava. You will get there.

Ava's first swing ride.

Grandma and Grandpa Nielson and Ava strolling in the dell.

So cute!

Ava's first swing ride alone. What a big girl.

Ava with Grandma's doll, Wetsie Betsie.

We loved our visit. Baby is sad to say bye-bye.